Parental role in shaping immigrant children’s subject choices and career pathway decisions in Australia

This study draws upon Vygotskian mediation and internalisation constructs to investigate how parental beliefs, values, expectations and familial acculturation processes can shape immigrant children’s secondary schooling subject choices within an Australian context. Using a case study approach, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 12 parents and their 12 children from three Australian secondary schools. Findings revealed that parents’ beliefs, values for education, their own past educational and career aspirations inclusive of perceived acculturation barriers guided children’s career pathway decisions. The paper discusses the significance of optimising immigrant parents’ role within the platform of home–school partnership.